Campaign Bean Recipe

As the President's reelection campaign kicks off- I figured I would share a recipe I learned from a volunteer while I was working on the campaign. It would be an understatement to say we ate poorly on the campaign. I often reminisce about Eagle Square Deli across from our headquarters in New Hampshire and how I felt as those if we didn't eat out at one of the local delis each day we would be losing votes for the Senator- the fact that they had delicious food certainly didn't hurt. However, as we got to the final stretch, everyone in New Hampshire it seemed was eager to provide us with food to keep us going. Being a vegetarian at the time I was limited in what I was able to eat, but there were some delicious side dishes that we were able to sample over that winter. One of them was a delicious baked bean recipe. One particular volunteer brought what I recall must have been at least 6 pounds of it over one night to the office which is to encourage all of you to try the recipe in large quantities. I hope that you enjoy- it is relatively simple if you have a crock pot or don't mind leaving your oven on over night:

Campaign Baked Beans

Ingredients:
1 lb. beans (pea beans, yellow eye or red kidney- your choice.)
1 1/2 quarts water
1 tsp. salt
1/3 cup brown sugar (I use dark brown)
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 cup molasses (not blackstrap - too strong)
1 large onion, cut in sixteenths

(1) Rinse beans well and pick over. Add to cold water and soak overnight.

(2) Cover the beans and bring to a simmer until tender. Usually about an hour

(3) Pre-heat oven to 275 degrees.

(4) Drain beans, reserving at least 2 cups of liquid.

(5) Mix liquid with sugar, mustard, molasses and salt. Put onion in the bottom of a pottery baking pot, add drained beans and then add the sugar mixture. Cover and bake for 5 to 7 hours. I check the beans every now and then. If the liquid goes down below the level of the beans, add more bean liquid (if there is any) or just water.

Finding new topics to talk about

One of the joys of correspondence is getting to discuss with everyone what is most exciting in their lives right now- this is the case with both the phone calls made and with traditional letters written. What is exciting now? What's going on in the world and in our lives?!

The conversations I have had in the past week have been with people from a wide variety of different facets of life: early in college, studying abroad and friend who I grew up with. Each conversations still filled with enthusiasm and like we hadn't missed a beat, in spite of having been more than a year since I had communicated with some. I always find those to be the best- conversations that don't miss a beat, even if years have since passed.

With conversation with my friend from my abroad trip, we had a wonderful time reminiscing

about our trip through Argentina, China, and India- while this was an academic trip- we spent a disproportionate amount of time reflecting on this series of pictures - clearly, the fun outweighed the academics- what are we even doing?

And - I received a letter back! (YAHOO!) A letter I had written during the first days of this challenge. This letter was from a family friend was incredible insightful. I have been reflecting on it for days now. She has been a musician her entire life and in hopes of continuing to pursue music, she joined the Army Band.
While I have had a number of friends go through basic training and into different military services, her perspective was fascinating to me as she explained some of the challenges facing the army today from the physical fitness challenges plaguing our nation, to how people are reacting to alterations in standard food options within the army, and the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Really interested stuff!

Often with each phone call I have had for these 20 days I find myself reflecting on the same aspects of my life over and over again and in an effort to freshen up my talking points about my own life, I watched a number of TED Talks today. I find most TED Talks to be very inspirational, and for those of you who have not yet perused the site, I recommend starting with some of the following and moving your way through as time allows. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design and is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.

Check these out:

Schools Kill Creativity

The World Needs All Kinds of Minds (autism)

Teach Every Child About Food

Not a TED Talk, but the always inspiring Last Lecture (he is from my hometown!)

Enjoy!

It's All About. The Pen.

Call me crazy, but I am a pen fanatic. I love a good pen and notice that it will literally change the course of a meeting/class/note card for me.

If I love the pen, I’ll write more, write better and stay more focused. But I’m also VERY particular about my pens. The ink has to be the right thickness, the ball point needs to roll perfectly- when everything aligns. BEAUTY. Honestly, I’m so particular about my pens- it could be borderline OSD.

I wrote last week about my love of stationary, and to be fare, that love is incomplete without that of a good pen.

On Monday, while working in my office, I noticed I needed I pen. I went to our supply room to get another PILOT G2 07, the typical pen our office stores in black and blue ink- and then I noticed something that changed my day, week and possibly my work life balance- someone had ordered the office UNI Super Ink pens with the 5 intents on the cap. (!!!!)

These pens are OUTSTANDING and beautiful because not only do they make my writing look so much better (I believe), but they then make me want to write even more! (For real!) Actually, when I first met one of the women who I would start working closely with at work this past summer, she pulled out one of these pens in a meeting- I couldn’t resist- don’t you just love those pens! She immediately exclaimed back- I don’t write anything without them! She then proceeded to tell me a story about how when she was at Harvard Law a friend of hers forgot that particular type of pen to take notes with for the day, and literally debated just skipping class, because it wouldn’t be worth it to go without the pen. Ultimately, she went all the way back home to get it and then ended up late to class, but pen in hand. (Ha!)

Anyway, if you haven’t yet used on one these wonderous pens- you must try it! It will change your penmanship, how much you write, who you write- and who knows, maybe you’ll even start writing a handwritten letter a day.